Dirigible lighting mechanism



0. D. EASIIVIAN AND W. M. GREGG.

DIHIGIBLE LIGHTING MECHANISIVI.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25. 1919.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

0. D. EASTMAN AND W. M. GREGG,

DIRIGIBLE LIGHTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED API .25, |919.

l,324,651. Patented Deo. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- OLIVER D. EASTMAN AND WALTER IVI. GREGQVOF MUSKEGON, MIGl-I:IGI-LN.l

DIRIGIBLE LIGHTING MECHANISM. i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, OLIVER D. EAsTiwmN and ALTER M. Glisse, citizens o-f the United AStates of America, residing at Muskegon, in the county of 'Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Lighting Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism for controlling and directing the rays of light Y of headlight lamps by connection fand op? eration with the steering mechanism of mobile apparatus. In the present instan'c'e'we have shown, and will hereinafterdescribe it in Vconnection with and for manipulating the headlights on automobiles, yet, we clesire it to be understood that we do not wish to be limited in the use of the invention to any specific purpose for which it may be employed, nor do we wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact constructionV and arrangement of the various parts of the device as herein shown and described, as we may employ it for any purpose for Y which it maybe adapted, and may vary thel details of construction without departing from the tion.

The invention consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel combi nation, arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof as will be'hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object ofthe invention is to provide a mechanism of the Vabove described g'eneral character, which sha-ll be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable, eicientV and substantially noiseless in operation, thel parts of which shall be so made and arranged as not likely to getv out of order through use.

A futher object of the invention is to lprovide a mechanism when used on automobiles that the rays of light from the headlight lamps thereof may be directed to the front of the machine or toany desired angle alternating' to the right or to the left as may be desired by the Aoperator at the steering wheel. Y Y

Various other objects and` advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation. Y

In order to enable Votliersskilledlin kthe principle and spirit ofthe inven-Y art towhich our invention'pertains to I iiakel and use the same we will nowproceed to de- Speei'caton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919;

application ledvAprl 25, 191%. Serial Io. 292,624.'

scribe it, referring to the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate an ein# bodiment of the invention, in whichk Y Y,

FigureV 1 is a vertical view partly in secvtionV andpartly in elevation taken on line 1 *1 of'Fig. 2,l lookingin the direction in- Vdicated by the arrows, .and illustrating a portion of an automobile frame, a part of the frontaXle, and one wheell thereof, showing the mechanism-mounted and supported by one of the mud guards; l j Fig. 2 isa plan view partly in section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing two of the mechanisms mounted in their respective positions relative to the wheels of the auto-A mobile and illustrating the front aXle and steering rod ofthe same shorteV ed Yfor the convenience of illustration;

Y Fig.v 3 is a'plan sectional view taken on line 3-3 looking in the directionindicated l by the arrows, showing means forrestricting the movement of the lamp "carrying or supportingl rod; y. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'plan viewpartly in section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;'

F igp is a side view thereof; y Fig.` 6 is a view in elevation of one @i the operating levers and itsreleasearm for the operating fingerY on the lamp supporting shaft or rod, showing by dotted lines the position. to whicli'the release arm may bev turned, said `View being taken on line 6,-',6' of. Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by theariows, Y 1 L y Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-.7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated `by the arrows, and illus-v trating the construction of the safetybrale 'used on the operating levers, and l Fig. 8 is a detached perspectiverview of the segmental link Yused in connection with the levered finger .and one of theV slotted arms ofthe cam mechanism used for turning the lamp carrying shaft. A

Lilie numerals of reference refer -to corre,-

sponding partsA throughout the different-v views of' the drawings. v Y Y l When our mechanism is used on automobiles, for which itis especiallyintended, we byv preference locate one of the mechanismsV near each of the front wheels ofthe automobile at the innersides of said.wheels,bi1tl each'oflthe Vmechanisms are identical in Y construction werhavel shown only one-`of thein,;except in 2, a ,duplicate show-- ing thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Referring now to* Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral designates the front axle of an automobile, which is provided as usual with wheels 11 of the ordinary or well-known construction, which wheels are steered by means of a steering rod 12 and levers 13 in the well-known way, it being understood that the rod 12 is connected to a rod extended into the body of the automobile for the purpose of shifting the rod 12 back and forth. Mounted on each side of the frame 14 or chassis, which is supportedby springs 15 in the ordinary or usual manner, is a mud guard 15 which extends outwardly and over the front wheels 11. Each of these guards is provided with. an opening 16, through which is vertically extended a supporting tube or casing 17, which is rigidly supported in the opening 16 of the mud guard by means of a bracket 18, which is clamped therearound and secured to the upper surface of the mud guard, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Mounted on the upper end of thesup orting tube or casing is a head piece 19, wiliich is provided with a vertical socket and is fixed to the casing 17 by a set screw 21.

Located in the socket 20 of the member 19 is a disk 22, which is secured to the lamp carrying rod by means of a set screw 23 at a suitable distance from the bottom of said socket. Located in the socket 20 is a reduced portion 24 on the lower end of a barrel 25, which reduced portion is provided with a vertical opening for the reception of the lamp supporting rod or shaft 26, which extends at its upper and lower ends through the supporting casing or tube 17, as well as through the barrel 25, which rests on the upper end of the head 19, as shown. Surrounding the upper portion of the shaft 26 and mounted on the upper end of the barrel 25 is a cap 27 which has an upward ex tension 28 to act as a bearing for the shaft or rod 26 for the lamp. The barrel 25 is provided just above the Vreduced portion 24 thereof with a socket 29, in which is located a pair of race plates 30, between which are interposed anti-friction balls 31 for facilitating the rotary movement of the lamp carrying shaft. Mounted on the upper race plate 30 within the barrel 25 is a cam disk 32', which is fixed to the shaft 26 by means of a set screw 33, and said cam disk has, as shown in Fig. 3, a segmental cut-out portion 34 to co-act with a pin 35 vertically secured in the barrel 25 at one side of the socket l31 therein for restricting the rotary movement of the lamp shaft. As shown the pin 35 extends upwardly above the upper surface of the disk 31 and has secured thereto one end of a torsion spring 36 whichv is coiled around the shaft 26 and has its upper end secured to the top of a casing 37 which is fixed by means .of a screw to the lamp shaft, so that said casing will rotate therewith. This casing is located withinthe barrel 25, as shown.

Surrounding the lower portion of the supporting tube or casing 17 is another casing or housing 39 for an auxiliary torsion spring ,40 which is secured at one of its ends to the upper portion of the casing 39, which casing is fixed to the tube 17 by means of a screw 41 or otherwise. The other end of the spring 40 is extended under the casing 39 andV rearwardly therefrom and is connected to a pin 42 extended upwardly from anger 43, which is loosely mounted on the lower portion of the supporting tube or casing 17 of the mechanism and extends rearwardly therefrom across the steering rod 12, and has at its other end or front portion an eccentric arm 44 which is provided with an eccentric or cam race '45. Clamped or fixed to the casing or tube 17 just above Vthe finger 43 is an arm 46, which has a longitudinal slot 47 extended to near its free end. Fixed on the lower end of the lamp carrying shaft 26 is another arm 48 which has a slot 49 therein for the recepd tion of a pin or projection 50 on one end of a segmental link 51, which has at its other end an opening 52 for the reception of a bolt 53 used for pivotally securing said link to the arm 4S. The pin or projection 50 on the link 51 is by preference provided with a pair of anti-friction rollers 54, which have independent action. The pin with its rollers is extended through the slots or races 45 and 47 Y of the members 44 and 46. and may be held in position by means of a cotter pin 55 extended through the upper por tion of said pin. Mounted on the steering rod near each of its ends and outwardly of the lingers 43, when two of the mecha nisnis are used on an automobile, which will generally be the case, is a clamping block consisting of two members 56 and 57 secured together by bolts 58 around the steen ing rod. The upper portion of the niember 57 is provided with a transverse opening for the reception of an operating lever 59 which is held in said opening by a screw 60. This operating lever consists of two members 59 and 61, which have at their acljacent ends olf-set portions 62 and 63 respectively. These portions have flat inner surfaces and rounded ends and are pivotally connected together by means of a pivot 64 and a collar 65 surrounding the same, said collar being held in place by means of a Cotter pin 66 extended through a suitable opening in one end of the pivot 64.

As is clearly shown Yin Fig. 7.of the draw-y ings, Vthe member 59 is provided with at least a pair of openings 67, which are located diametrically opposite each other, and each has nested therein a spring 68 and a ballg), The member 57 is provided in its inner face with a plurality of pits or depressions 70, which are arranged to register with the openings'67 in the other member.

By this arrangement it will be understood desired that said member sha-ll not engage.

Y the finger, or thatthe mechanism shall not be operated, which will be the case in daytime or when a light is not required. After the :releasing member 6l has been turned to its inoperative position, as-sliown in Fig. 6 by .dotted lines, it is apparent .that the balls 69 will engage a pair of pits in said member arranged for this purpose. To extend the member 61 ink its operative position it is only necessary to turn it upwardly on its pivot, when, it is apparent, that the balls will be pressed againstthe springs 68 and so held until another pair of the pits are brought into register with the. openings .67 in the member 56.

The application and operation of the mechanism is as follows: One of the devices is mounted on each side of the mobile apparatus and they operate individually and alternately, depending on the direction in which the mobile apparatus is steered. Y While the mobile apparatus is in its normal position or adapted for travel in a straight line the rays of vlight from the lamp 7l will be directed straight ahead or forwardly from the front of the apparatus, and the operating lever and releasing arm thereof will remain in their normal positions, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings. While in this position the steering mechanism will have no connection with the lamp directing mechanisms, as they are not required for daylight service. When lights are required the releasing members 6l of the operating levers are placed in a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 2, 4f and 5.' When the mobile apparatus is turned to the right the releasingmember 6l of one of the mechanisms will engage the side of the finger 43, and the lamp connected therewith will be turned to the right, thus throwing the rays in the direction that the machine is turned, while the other lamp will remain in its normal position. When the machine is turned to a normal course the finger will be released from the pressure of the release member 6l, and the spring 36, assisted by the spring 40, will return the lamp to its normal position, and the same operation will be performed when the machine is turned to the left. VBy means of our improvements, it is apparent that in turning corners or in turning to the roadsdethe rays of light are thrown in the direction to whichithe apparatus is turned,

thus avoiding ditch accidents and.v corner collisions. VIt is alsol apparent that in case of accident or any other cause the fingeror lingers should be prevented by the release member or membersl vfrom returning to willhave freedom of action for directingV the apparatus in any required direction.

Havingthus fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

l. A deviceV of the character described, consisting of an automobile having a steering mechanism, a vertically disposed casing suitably mounted on the automobile, a shaft extended through both ends of the casing and mounted for rotative movement thereon, a lamp mounted on the upper end of the shaftV for movement therewith, a finger mounted on the lower end of the casing for rotative movement thereon, eccentric means connecting the rarm portion of the linger withfthe shaft, and means on the steering mechanism for turning the finger in oneY direction.Y

2. A device of the character described,

consisting'of an automobile having a steering mechanism, a vertically disposed casing mounted on the automobile, a shaft eX- tended vertically through the casing above and below the same and mounted for automatic movement in one direction and having means forY limiting the revolution thereof, a lamp .on the shaft, a horizontally disposed eccentrical finger mounted on the lower end of the casing for rotative movement thereon, a cam connectin the eccentric with the lower end of thes aft, means on the steering mechanism for engaging the linger and turning it in one direction.

3. A device of the character described, consisting of an automobile having a steering mechanism, a vertically disposed casing suitably mounted on the automobile, a shaft extended through the casing and mounted for automatic movement in one direction and for limited rotation, a lamp mounted on the shaft, a horizontally disposed linger mounted for rotative movement on the lower end of the casing, eccentric means connecting the arm portion of the finger with the shaft, and means onthe steering mechanism for engaging the finger and turning it in one direction.

fl. In a device of the character described, the combination with an automobile, of a steeringV rod mounted near the front-axle thereof for shiftable movement, a supporting casing vertically mounted near said rod and one of the .front wheels ef the automo-V bile, a spring-actuated lamp carrying shaft supported by said case and extended through the lower end thereof, a springpressed finger mounted around to the lower portion of said shaft and extended across the steering rod, a slotted arm fixed to the shaft above said linger and extended in the opposite direction, said linger having a cam slot in the arm 1aortion thereof, a slotted arm fixed on the shaft at a distance below the ringer, a cam link located between the last named arm and the finger and pivotally and movably connected at one of its ends to said arm, a projection extended from the other end of sail link and engaging the slots of the l ver Qortion of the linger and of the rst named arm, and adjustable means mounted on the steering rod for engagement with the linger.

A device of the character described, consisting of a vertically supported casing, a shaft in the casing mounted for rotative movement, a lamp on the upper end of the shaft, automatic means in the casing for turning the shaft in one direction, a finge-r rotatively mounted on the lower end of the casing, means for loosely securing the arm portion of the finger with the lower end of the shaft, auxiliary means on the casing connected with the linger for turning the finger and shaft in the saine direction as the first named means.

6. A device of the character described, consisting of an automobile, a vertically disposed casing mounted thereon, a shaft in the casing extended below the casing, a lamp on the upper end of the shaft, automatic means in the casing for rotating the shaft in one direction, a finger rotatively mounted on the lower end of the casing, eccentric means connecting the arm portion of the linger with the lower end of the shaft, auxiliary automatic means on the casing connected with the finger for turn ing the-linger and shaft in the same direction as the first named automatic means, and means on the automobile for turning the finger and shaft in an opposite direction. l

7. A device of the character described, consisting of a suitably supported vertically disposed casing, a vertically disposed shaft arranged therein, automatic means in the casing for rotating the shaft in one direction, and auxiliary automatic means on the casing to cooperate with the first named means.

OLIVER D. EASTMAN. VALTER M. GREGG. 

